Building construction and block



Jan. 24, 1928.

G. HUOVINEN BUILDING CONSTRUCTIGN AND BLOCK Filed Dec. 28. 1936 mvamog V'oZ lzdfloz/zizen BY ATTORNEYS I WITNESSES 224/: 97w

Patented Jan. 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES GOT'II'RIED HUOVINEN, OF PALISADES PARK, NEW JERSEY.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND BLOCK.

Application filed December 2 8, 1926.

The present invention is concerned with the provision of a new type ofbuilding block capable of a wide range of utility, but peculiarly suitedfor the construction of small buildings which are adapted to withstandheavy Wino storms or the like.

One object of the invention is to provide a building construction inwhich the walls formed of my improved concrete blocks are anchored tothe footings, and the roof anchored to the walls, so that there will beno danger of the roof being torn away by wind pressure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a building block soconstructed that moisture cannot penetrate to the interior of thebuilding through the mortar which connects the blocks, and being soarranged that not only sub 'acent and superjacent tiers of blocks may belocked together by reinforcements, but adjacent blocks of eachindividual tier may be interlocked by reinforcements.

Other and more general objects of the invention are to provide abuildingblock of simple practical construction which will be rugged, durable andeflicient in use, and with which a peculiarly strong, durable andinexpensive building may be rapidly erected.

ld ith the above noted and other objects in view, the invention consistsin certain novel features of construction and combinations andarrangements of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth andpointed out in the claims. The invention may be more fullyunderstoodfrom the following description in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein-- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary broken verticalsectional view through one wall and a portion of the roof of a buildingconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the blocks, the dotted linesindicating the line of division to be followed when forming half blocks.

Fig.3isasectional plan view showing the corner of the building in courseof erection.

Fig. 4 is an edge view of one of the anchoring straps for the roofrafters.

The particular type of building block shown in Fig. 2 is formed ofconcrete or other suitable material, and is of general rectangular shapein longitudinal section, the block being preferably, although notnecessarily of square cross sectional Serial No. 157,549.

shape in transverse section, as it customary in the art.

The block is designated at 10, and extending transversely therethroughare four relativelylarge openings 11 which define air spaces'within theblock. These openings also cooperatively define av longitudinallyextending interior partition 12 and a transversely interior partition 13which intersects the longitudinal partition. At diagonally oppos tecorners of the block, the block walls are slightly thickened to providefor cylindrical holes 14 extending transversely through the block andadapted to receive reinforcing rods. The transverse partition 13 is alsoslightly thickened at opposite sides of opposite ends to provide amplematerial around similar cylindrical openings 15, the openings 1% and 15of each side of the block being separated by a distance of approximatelyone half block, and being spaced on opposite sides of the centralpartition 13.

line arrangement of openings 15 permits the opening of superjacent andsubjacent tiers of blocks to be accurately aligned either when theblocks are directly piled one upon the other, or when the blocks arearranged in staggered relationship with one block Overlying the ends oftwo adjacent blocks. It also, as seen in F 3, permits registration oftwo of the openings of one block with two openings of a superjacent orsubjaceut block laid at right angies thereto, as at the corner of abuilding.

Referring now to :Eigs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, 1 have illustrated apreferred manner of use of the blocks. The building which I have shownincludes a substantial concrete footing '16 in which are embedded theintermediate portions of U-shaped reinforcing members 17. the freehooked ends of which project upwardly and are adapted to enter certainof the openings 14 or 15 in the first tier of blocks 10 which arelaidupon the footing. The construction is such that the hooked ends of thereinforcements may either enter two of the openings 14, 15 of one block.or may enter the openings id or 15 of laterally adjacent blocks, lockingthe blocks together.

After the first tier of blocks has been laid, a second tier issuperimposed on the lower tier. the latter tier being staggeredrelatively to the former one, and having its openings 14, 15 aligningwith similar openings in the lower tier. Reinforcing rods 18 are nowinserted through the openings in the second tier of blocks, their endsengaged with the hooked upper ends of the reinforoinn; lneinhers'lT, andthe rods 18 pulled forcibly upwardly to firmly interengatje them withthe reinforcen'units 17. Concrete i7 is now poured into the alignedopenings 14. 15 of the two einplaced tiers and tainped down, leaving then'ojecting upper ends of the rods 18 exposed. Two more tiers of blocksare applied and new sets of reinforcing rods inserted and. anchored bypouring more concrete. The iniiperinost reinforcing rods of the seriesare designated at 19 and are provided with offset upper ends 20 hookedas 21 to engage a roof rafter 22. The strap-like offset portions 20 ofthe upper tie rods are preferably holted as at 23 to the rafter, and therafter may he cut away as at 24 to freely receive the hooked portionsBl.

By virtue of this construction, the blocks of the walls are anchored andtied to the footing, and the roof rafters are anchored and tied to thewalls, so that the building will he substantially proof against damageby Wind storlns.

Preferably, at least one end of each block is formed With grooves 25.these grooves dc- .fining with the flat Wall of an adjacent block, airpockets, so that when the mortar is applied between the two blocks,there Will he air spaces or interruptions in at least two places at thejoint so that moisture cannot penetrate to the interior of the buildingthrough the mortar.

Obviously, various changes and alterations might he made in the generalform and arrangei'ncnt of the parts described Without departing from theinvention. Hence I do not wish lo limit myself to the details set forth,hut shall consider myself at llhcrty to make such changes andalterations as fairly fall Within the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

l. claim:

1. in a building construction, a footing, a Wall ofHiil'llll'llllllOSQll concrete hlochs anchorcd to the looting and aseries of roof rafters tied to the feeling ihrougrh the ldUCliS, themeans for tying the footing and rafters together ClJ]ll1')ll-5l1l{,;'reinforcing hal's passing through lhc hh'iths and anchored at their endsto the looting and rafters re spectivcly.

L In a lniilding construction, a footing, a wall of superimposedmain-mete hlocln; anchorod to the looting: and a acrios of roof rafterstied to the footing through the hlochs, reinforcing lllQlllllGlHonlhcmlod in the footing and extending upu'ulwll into aligned openingsin the hlocha. a vertical series of reinforcing; liars having" hoi'ihcduncement with each other and with the footicing lied l adjacent hlorlcsof said lier.

reinforcclnents and rafter engaging all) [iii

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